“This is [my] first time coming today. I figure I’ll bring my wife, she likes to shoot, and a couple of other friends,” LaRosa said.

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LaRosa was able to do some target practicing at the Hammond Cove shooting range in Hartland. It had been closed for two months to make upgrades.

“The facilities are excellent and, quite frankly, I’d like to see more of them around,” LaRosa said.

However, for Plainfield, N.H. resident, Daniel Dewey, July 23 wasn’t a great day. He says he’s continuing to fight what seems to be a never-ending battle. He and several Plainfield residents who live across the Connecticut River from the range have been filing noise complaints for years about the gunfire. Dewey said it’s driving him out of his home.

“I’ve been looking forward to retirement and, quite frankly, I’m not sure we can do it now because, I don’t want to speak for my wife, but I don’t want to be here while [the shooting] is going on,” Dewey said.

Officials said they’re trying to compromise, so they’ve implemented some new rules. There are new, limited hours. The range will be open from Thursday – Monday from 10a.m. to 3p.m. on most days. Officials have also started regulating gunfire to one shot per second. Officials have also heightened security. Visitors will have to check in with the range officer, who will be on-site during hours of operation, and present their valid fish and wildlife license. Two surveillance cameras have also been installed.

“We’re definitely striving towards a goal where we can meet each other half-way and be good neighbors,” said Daneil Pieterse of Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

Dewey said he’s still isn’t convinced the new rules will make a difference.

“[The range] just shouldn’t be there. They put a shooting gun range 300 yards from my back door,” Dewey said.

Officials and visitors at the Hammond Cove shooting range said that the new rules are a good thing.

“People have been very respectful and they’ve been happy with the new changes,” Pieterse said.

Dewey, who said he’s lost about $100,000 of property value due to the gunfire, said he doesn’t think he should have to pay for someone else’s recreational sport.

“Our community is picking up the tab for others and those communities, those shooting communities, should be bearing the cost of their own hobbies,” Dewey said.

Regardless, LaRosa said he’s happy he gets to enjoy his hobby just a short distance from his home once again.

“I think they made it better for everybody,” LaRosa said.

Pieterse said Fish and Wildlife will continue to consider improvements to the shooting range.